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The cold black misty winds blew across my face as I stared into the blackness from the density of the forest vegetation and ominous canopy stretch onward, creating a place where light refuses to shed its gaze. Although, I needed to venture forth into the cold forest as a specific plant is rumoured to grow in there. With it, I could heal my village from a spreading sickness no one could cure that would leave people dead wherever it spread. This plant, rumoured to have numerous beneficial properties from being able to numb pain, curing a cold, to when its used properly, regrow limbs. Of course, these were all rumours, but it is the best lead I had found in order to save my people from the disease that struck my small village.

So, I mentally prepared for the almost hungering darkness before me as I raised my hand and used a minor magic spell that creates a small, but vibrant white orb that floated above my palm. With my light now technically in hand, I now headed forward into the blackness with my only way forward being seen by my small spell. I continued deeper into the forest as the scratching of wood and snapping twigs started to sound out. As I walked further in, I saw less. Almost as if the darkness was consuming my small light and trying to snuff out where it came from so it could be once again shrouded in the blackness it created. The sounds of this place continued to ring out around me as I continued onward. I lost track of time as I sought for the plant further and further into the darkness. More sings of things in the dark littering the floor that I walked and the trees I passed.

The darkness around me continued to seemingly close in. Trying to break my spirit and snuff out my light but I walked forward, knowing that I was close to something. The plant, called Healers Lotus, was so close yet I didn’t know where it was. The only image I saw showed a small lotus but no colours were present, so I don’t know what I was looking for. The sounds of creaking wood passed by my ear as I felt my tan cloak be shifted yet as I swung my light around, I saw nothing but a tree standing in the little circle of light I had. I cautiously moved onward, as skittering sounds wormed around the ground, the creaking of wood, and the clashing of stone, all sounded around me trying to scare me away.

But I continued onward into the darkness till I saw a change. A light in the ever-consuming darkness. I ran quickly towards it and passed out of the pitch blackness to the blinding light of day. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust but once they did, I saw a small flower ridden grove which circled a glittering vibrant blue pond with metallic silver fish along with several small lily pad atop its surface. All of which had a red and white lotus flower that seemingly had a golden sheen to them. Beside the pound was a few large rocks that had a small amount of water running down it into the pound below

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I swiftly retrieved my book and read how to correctly collect the flowers nectar before setting to work. But as I approached the flowers, I noticed that on the side of the rocks was a blue piece of fabric. Instead of heading for the water, I moved to get a better look only to see a skeleton wearing some degrading brown clothes and a tattered and faded blue cloak. The skeleton hug a small chest to which I grabbed and opened. Within was several small vials of a golden liquid which were set beside a small green journal with the name Jade M in faded ink atop the cover.

I read through the journal and saw that this person had sought out the lotuses as well to heal a land beset by decay. They had arrived in this very same grove after experiencing a very similar experience in the forest beyond, but they didn’t have access to any magic. The journal continued to describe the process of retrieving the lotus nectar which is what is still miraculously still suitable for use after seemingly years within the small vials. But the journals next page had been torn from the book, along with six more directly behind that. The next and last words in the small book were.

‘The curse these have, is a curse worse then dying in the decay.’

My hair stood on end as I quickly grabbed the lotus nectar the previous traveller had collected and use my light magic once more to light the way. I started to run back the way I came and after a few minutes, the light of day was visible. I ran towards it and covered my eyes to not be temporarily blinded. I let my eyes adjust only to see the same grove I had just left before me. I turned around and ran into the forest once more only to see the light once more. I entered it only to enter the grove once more once again. I tried and tried again, only ever finding the groves light again and again. I knew then what the curse was and with serious hesitation, I returned the box to June, and once again set out.

I walked for what felt like an hour to see daylight once more in the distance. I ran to it with open arms only to see the same grove once again. I feel to my knees knowing that June had likely tried the same thing and for the rest of their days until they finally perished. Alone, trapped, and yet with the cure to their plagued land in their hand.